Dial mechanism for multistation circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

Dial mechanism for a multistation circular knitting machine adapted to form multifeed turned welt portions on tubular fabrics, the dial mechanism including transfer bits, cam means at one of the knitting stations for moving the transfer bits to engage the transfer course of the makeup or starting courses of the welt and for then moving the transfer bits to a first holding position to hold the transfer course as other makeup courses are formed at the other knitting stations and a further cam means adjacent one of the other knitting stations for moving the transfer bits to a second holding position to facilitate severance of yarns introduced into and removed from knitting action during the formation of the welt by yarn severing means associated with the dial.

United States Paton W1 fi twh ww [72] Inventor John F. Remlinnw 3,222,892 12/1965 Moyor 66/145 X m] A r N 5232 nonoiori PATENTS pp 0. [22] Ffled Jan. 26.1970 l33.22i /1919 Groat Britain 66/95 Patented Aug. 3, i9'7i Primary Emmmw Wm. Carton Roynoltls 73 Assignce North American Rockwell lilot'notntion Attomoyt iohn it. Bmnnngh and Loviaon, O'Connor, Spoor Pittsburgh, PM.

4 l l [5 l ATHON fitiihii'iifitfi'i: Dial moohonism for o I multittation circular 3 Claims 4 Drawing 8% knitting mnohmo ntinototi to form moltifood turned welt portions on tubular t'ohrioa, tho dial mechanism inolucling transfer l fill/W hitt, own monno it! one oi tho knitting; motions for moving; the 66/140 tronsfor bits to ongtngo tho transfoi" oooroo oi the makeup or Elm-Cl w/Wv atoning ooumoa of tho wolt and for thou moving the transfer 1904b 15/61 him to ti first holding position to hold tho trontfot oourto as meld Search fill/v othor moltoop ooonios ato format! at tho other knitting titfillOl'lS W0 tmti it further oom monna ncijnoont ono of tho other knitting motions for moving tho tmnofor bits to n tooond holding posil56] Relemnm clml tion to fnoilittito liovornnoo of yornn introtiooocl into and UNlTED STATES PATENTE romovotl from itnlttintt notion timing the formation of the wit 2,824,436 2/l958 Stock at a]. 66/160 by ynm novotin monnn tintoointoo with tho oinl.

DIAL MECHANISM FOR MULTI-STATION CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION conventionally, a circular knitting machine for knitting ladies SCBII'IICSSBIZOCICIIIES is provided with a dial having transfer Ibits cooperating withthe needles of the machine in forming turned welt portions or the stockings and yarn-.

trimmingmeans associated with the dial including an annular toothed cutter rotating with theneedles and transfer bits and u t'ixedcutter coopersting withthc toothed cutter for severing the ingoing andoutgeing ends of yarns introduced into and removed fromaction in forming the various portions of the stockingmWhen the machine is provided with eight knitting stations the first two makeup courses of the welt are formed ct yams introduced at thetwo stations Nos. 7 and 8 preceding the main knittingstation of the machine. As the third or transfer courseis formed of yarn introduced at the main station the transfer bits are advanced from an inner inactive positionto. an. outer active position to engage yarn bights of the transfer course.The transfer bits then are retracted to a holding position to hold the transfer course during subsequent knitting of the remaining courses of the wait of yarns introduced at all ofthe stations of the machine. During formution of the last welt course the transfer bits are again advanced to active positions at the main station to transfer the yarn bights of the transfer course back to the needles and the bits arethen returned to their inner inactive positions for the formation of the remainder of the stocking.

Following the introduction of the yarns at stations Nos. 7 and Bto form the first two makeup courses the lngoinp ends of theseyarns are engagedin the teeth of the annular cutter and carried to the fixed cutter, which is located between stations 'Nos. 8 and I, for severance close to the first needle to knit the yams at stations Nos. .7 and 8-Aiil0, after introduction of the yarn formingthe transfer course at station No. i and the introduction of the yarns at the other stations, the ingoing ends ofthese yarns should similsrily be engaged by the teeth of the annular cutter and carried to the fixed cutter for severance. However, in the holding position of the transfer hits the hook portions thereof are positioned between the needles and the outer ends of the teeth of the annular cutter and. it sometimes occurs that the ingoing endsof the yarns at station No. l and the other stations activated after the formation of the transfer course snag on the hook portions of the transfer bits and are prevented from engaging the annular cutter for severance by the fixed cutter. The unsevered ends of such snagged yarns are then withdrawn from the suction means associated with the trimming means. While these unsevered yarns ends are of considerable length, inasmuch as they are connected to the makeup courses adjacent the transfer course they are usually interknittcd in the fabric when thetransfer course is returned to the needles without effecting the appearance of the welt.

At times yarnchanges are made at some or all of the knitting. stationsto introduce colored yarns to form a band at theouterfold of the welt contrasting with the color to which the stocking .is to be dyed. When the ends of the ingoing colored yarns. similarily snag on the transfer bits and are withdrawn from the suction means, as above set forth. the relatively long ends of the unsevcred yarns, which lie between the foidsof the welt, present-an unsightly appearance in the finished stockingrAiso, the. outgoing ends of the main welt yarns and the colored yarns substituted therefor to form the colored band at times snag on the hooks of the transfer bits and when this occurs the unsevered outgoing yarns may be continuously wrapped around the outer ends of the books which resuitsin damage to the transfer bits when they are moved to return the transfer course to the needles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly summarized the invention resi s in h provi n f dial mechanism for a muitistation circular knitting m in adapted for multifccd makeup and formation of welt portions of tubular fabrics for stockings and the like. The dial mechanism has transfer bits and operated means for the transfer bits including cam'means at one of the knitting stations for moving the transfer bits between inner retracted inactive and outer advanced active positions to engage the transfer course of the makeup and to then move the transfer bits to a first holding position intermediate the inactive and active positions to hold the transfer course as other courses of the makeup are formed st the other stations. The dial mechanism further includes cam moans adjacent one of the other stations for moving the transfer hits to n second holding position intermediate the first holding and the inactive positions durinp formation of the remaining courses of the welt. in their second holding positions their book portions are positioned inside of the teeth of an annulus forming part of the yarn trimminp means associated with the dial mechanism thus permitting unrestricted engagement of yarns introduced into and removed from action. during the formation of the welt. with the annulus for severance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIDN 0i Tl-IE. DRAWINGS FIG. l is s top plan view of u portion ofu multistution circulnr knitting machine having means for operating the dial bits according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of a portion of FIG. 11 with parts being broken away in order to show operating paths of the dial hits;

FIG. 3 is n croswscctionui view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

Fifi. d is n cross-sectionul view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows M of FilCi. 2.

DESCRIPTION (ll 'illE PREFERRED EMBGDIMENT Referring to Fit}. i of the drawings there is shown a portion of a circular knitting machine adapted for rotury operation to form tubular fabrics such as stockings with turned welt por tions the machine including a usual circle of needles. indicated at iii. which are siidably mounted in slots in a cylinder (not shown) mounted for rotary movement in a conventional manner. The machine has eight knittinp stations Nos. t to a spaced around the circle of needles to with each station being provided with yarn lingers ii movable between inactive posi tions and active positions in which they feed their yarns to the needles, sinkers and cam means (not shown) for operating the needles and sinkers in forming knitted courses of the stocking fabrics.

The machine is also provided with diai mechanism it? ineluding a bed member 20 secured to a shaft 116 rotated in synchronism with the needle cylinder and having radially ex tending slots hi (FIGS. 3 and d) for slidably mounting transfer bits 22, a stationary cup 23 having an annular surface 26 cooperating with butts M on the dial bits to determine the fully retracted inactive path of the dial bits, an outer cam ring 30 secured to the cup for controlling the dial bits as hereinafter set forth, a transfer cam 3i on the cap movable between an inactive position and an active position in which it acts on the butts 27 to move the dial bits to fully advanced positions and a cam as on the cup movable between an inao tive position and an active position in which it acts on the butts to return the dial bits to their fully retracted path. The cams 3i and 32 are located at the No. i knitting station, commonly referred to as the main knitting station, and not on the butts 27 to operate the transfer hits 22 in cooperation with the needles iii in forming the welt portions of the, stockings in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The machine also has yarn controlling and severing means indicated at 3d (fiCiS. i, d and i) which is penersliy of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,436, the yarn severing means including an annulus so having peripheral teeth 37, the annulus being p si i n d b tw n he be member so and cam ring ill) for rotation with the bed member. A cutting member 40, positioned between stations Nos. 8 and l as shown in FIG. 1, cooperates with the upper surface of the teeth 37 to sever the outgoing and ingoing yarns of all of the knitting stations engaged in the teeth when the yarn fingers are moved to inactive and active positions, respectively. A foot member 41 secured to the cap 25 by screws 42 has a lower surface 45 which is spaced from the upper surface of the cap and a downwardly extending outer annular lip 46. The lower end of the lip 46 is spaced slightly above the upper surface of the annulus 36. The lower end of a suction tube 47 (FIG. I) communicates with the space between upper surface of the cap and lower surface 45 of the foot member 41. The suction tube is connected to a vacuum pump or the like (not shown) for creating a continuous flow of air between the lip 46 and annulus 36 and into the lower end of the suction tube for purposes hereinafter set forth.

Following movement of a yarn finger II to inactive position at any of the knitting stations the outgoing yam of the inactivated finger is engaged in a tooth 37 of the annulus 36 adjacent the last needle to knit the yarn. The annulus then carties the outgoing yarn between the lip 46 on the foot member 41 and annulus tothe cutting member 40 for severance and the severed end of the outgoing yarn extending from the yarn finger is withdrawn into and held in the suction tube by the flow of air passing therethrough. On the other hand when u yarn finger is moved to active position the lngoing end of the yarn held by the suction tube is engaged in a tooth of annulus 36 adjacent the first needle to knit the ingoing yarn and carried thereby to the cutting member 40 for severance and the severed portion of the ingoing yarn is withdrawn through the suction tube by the airflow to a collector associated with the suction tube.

in forming the welt portion of a stocking on the machine described herein a yarn finger is moved to active position and alternate needles are operated to form the first of the makeup courses at station No. 7 and a yarn finger is activated and all of the needles are operated to fonn the second of the makeup courses at station No. 8. The ends of the ingolng yarns at stations Nos. 7 and 8. which are held in the suction tube 47. are engaged by the annulus 36 and carried to the cutting member 40 for severance as above described. A yarn finger is activated and alternate needles are operated at the main knitting station .No. l to form the third or transfer course and simultaneously the cam 31 is moved to active position to act on the butts 27 to fully advance the transfer bits 22 above the intervening needies, the butts at this time entering a depression 51 in the inner surface of the cam ring 30 (FIG. 2). The butts 27 then engage a cam rise 52 on the cam ring 30 to slightly retract the transfer bits 22 to active positions determined by an inner concentric surface 55 on the cam ring and place their hook portions 36 above the intervening needles to engage bights of the yarn of the transfer course as the alternate needles are lowered along the stitch-forming path. From the positions determined by the surface 53 the butts 27 engage a cam rise 57 on the cam ring 30 to retract the transfer bits to a first holding path A (FIG. 2) determined by an inner concentric surface 60 of the cam ring 30, intermediate the active positions and inactive path of the hits. as the alternate needles complete their stitch-drawing movement. In the positions of the transfer bits 22 determined by the surface 60 the tips of the hook portions 56 of the transfer bits are positioned between the needles l and the outer ends of the teeth of the annulus 36, as shown in FIG. 3 with only sufficient clearance between the needles and hook portions to prevent interference therebetween during operation of the needles. This position of the transfer bits is critical since it determines the length of the stitches of the transfer course. The transfer bits then normally remain in the first holding path during formation of the remaining courses of the welt fabric.

Following formation of the first or transfer course at 5thtion No. 1 yarn fingers are activated and the needles are operated at the remaining of the eight stations in order and the ends of the ingoing yarns are engaged in the teeth of the annuins 36 and severed in the manner above set forth. When no yarn changes are required in the welt fabric courses are formed of yarns of the yarn fingers initially activated at the stations Nos. i to 8 throughout the remainder of the welt fabric. When it occurs that any of ingoing yarns of the stations activated after the main station snags on the tips of the transfer bits and are prevented from engaging the teeth 37 of the annulus 36 for severance the ends of the snagged yarns are withdrawn from the suction tube and are usually interlaced in the fabric stitches when the transfer course is returned to the needles to close the welt portion where it is unnoticed when the stocking is dyed and finished for sale. However, when u yarn change is made at some or all of the knitting stations for the purpose of inserting courses of yarns contrasting in color to the color that the stocking is to be dyed and the ingolng colored yarns are snagged on the tips of the transfer bits which prevents their severance the unscvered ends of the colored yarns. which lie between the folds of the welt. present an unsightly appearance in the finished stockings.

Also when the colored yarns are substituted for the main yarns and when the main yarns are again returned to action at the end of the colored course area the outgoing ends of both main and colored yarns sometimes snag on the tips of the transfer bits. At times such snagged yarns may eventually drop off of the transfer bits and be severed and the relatively long severed ends are then enfolded between the welt folds when the welt is closed and at other times the snagged yarns are continuously wrapped into a tight band around the outer ends of the hook portions of the transfer bits which results in damage thereto when the bits are subsequently moved by the transfer cum to return the transfer course to the needles.

in order to prevent this snagging of both the ingoing and outgoing yarns on the transfer bits when yarn changes are made during the formation of the welt the transfer bits are retracted to a second holding path. indicated at B in FIG. 2. intermediate their first holding and their fully retracted or inactive paths. in this second holding path the hook portions lie inside the root portions of the teeth 37 of the annulus 36. as shown in FIG. 4. The means for retracting the transfer bits to their second holding path. in accordance with the instant in vention. comprises a cam bit 61 which is secured by a screw 62 in a notch or groove 63 formed in the underside of the outer cam ring 30. as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The cam bit 61 has a rise portion 63 merging with the inner surface 60 of the cam ring 30 and a high portion 66. the rise and high portions acting on the butts 27 to retract the transfer bits to the second holding path hereinbefore referred to. Preferably the cam bit 61 is positioned in the outer cam ring 30 between stations Nos. 8 and i and adjacent to station No. 8 and the cam bit acts to retract the transfer bits before they again pass the station No. 1 during formation of another course of the welt at this station. The transfer bits then remain in the second holding path during formation of the remaining courses of the welt. Following the formation of the last course of the welt portion of the stocking which is knitted at station No. 8. both cams 31 and 32 are moved to active positions at station No. l, with the cam 31 acting to move the transfer bits from the second holding path to their fully advanced positions to return the bights of the transfer course to the needles. the cam 32 then acting to move the transfer bits to their fully retracted inactive path.

it is believed to be obvious from the foregoing that the instant invention will permit movement of the transfer bits to a first holding path following engagement with the transfer course of the welt in the conventional manner and the cam bit 61 will then move the transfer bits to a second holding path in which the hook portions of the bits will not interfere with the severance of the yarns introduced and removed from action. during the formation of the welt of a stocking. Furthermore. the cam but 61 is so positioned in relationship to the knitting stations of the machine as to permit the formation of a sufficient number of courses of the welt to avoid any strain on and damage to the transfer course when the transfer bits are moved from the, first to the second holding path.

it will be understood that the improvement specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention disclosed herein.

Iclaim:

1. In a multistation circular knitting machine having a rotatable circle of needles, means for feeding yarns to said needles at said stations to be formed into courses of a tubular fabric, dial mechanism including transfer bits rotatable with and cooperating with said needles to form a turned welt portion of said fabric, first cam means at a first of said stations for moving said transfer bits from an inner inactive path to outer active positions for engagement of hook portions of said transfer bits with yarn bights of a transfer course of said turned welt portion formed at said first station and for then moving said transfer bits from said active positions to a first holding path intermediate said inactive path and said active positions to hold said yarn bights of said transfer course as other courses of said welt are formed at others of said knitting stations, yarn trimmer mechanism associated with said dial mechanism, said trimmer mechanism including an annulus rotatable with said transfer bits teeth in the periphery of said annulus for engaging yarns introduced into and removed from knitting action at said stations, and a cutter member cooperating with said teeth for cutting yarns engaged therein, the hook portions of said transfer bits when in said first holding path being positioned between said circle of needles and the outer ends of said teeth in said annulus the improvement comprising second cam means adjacent one of said other stations for moving said transfer bits to a second holding path intermediate said first holding and inactive paths to hold said yarn bights of said transfer course as further courses of said welt are formed at said first and other stations, said hook portions of said transfer bits when in said second holding path being positioned inside of the root portions of said teeth ofsaid annulus.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which said first cam means includes a first cam for moving said transfer bits from said inactive path to fully advanced positions, a second cam for retracting said transfer bits from said fully advanced positions to said active positions to engage said yarn bights of said transfer course, and a third cam for moving said transfer bits from said active positions to said first holding path, and said first cam is adapted to move said transfer bits from said second holding path to said active positions to transfer said transfer course to said circle of needles.

3. A machine according to claim 2 in which said first cam means includes a fourth cam for moving said transfer bits from said active positions to said inactive path following transfer of said transfer course from said transfer bits to said circle of needles. 

1. In a multistation circular knitting machine having a rotatable circle of needles, means for feeding yarns to said needles at said stations to be formed into courses of a tubular fabric, dial mechanism including transfer bits rotatable with and cooperating with said needles to form a turned welt portion of said fabric, first cam means at a first of said stations for moving said transfer bits from an inner inactive path to outer active positions for engagement of hook portions of said transfer bits with yarn bights of a transfer course of said turned welt portion formed at said first station and for then moving said transfer bits from said active positions to a first holding path intermediate said inactive path and said active positions to hold said yarn bights of said transfer course as other courses of said welt are formed at others of said knitting stations, yarn trimmer mechanism associated with said dial mechanism, said trimmer mechanism including an annulus rotatable with said transfer bits teeth in the periphery of said annulus for engaging yarns introduced into and removed from knitting action at said stations, and a cutter member cooperating with said teeth for cutting yarns engaged therein, the hook portions of said transfer bits when in said first holding path being positioned between said circle of needles and the outer ends of said teeth in said annulus the improvement comprising second cam means adjacent one of said other stations for moving said transfer bits to a second holding path intermediate said first holding and inactive paths to hold said yarn bights of said trAnsfer course as further courses of said welt are formed at said first and other stations, said hook portions of said transfer bits when in said second holding path being positioned inside of the root portions of said teeth of said annulus.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 in which said first cam means includes a first cam for moving said transfer bits from said inactive path to fully advanced positions, a second cam for retracting said transfer bits from said fully advanced positions to said active positions to engage said yarn bights of said transfer course, and a third cam for moving said transfer bits from said active positions to said first holding path, and said first cam is adapted to move said transfer bits from said second holding path to said active positions to transfer said transfer course to said circle of needles.
 3. A machine according to claim 2 in which said first cam means includes a fourth cam for moving said transfer bits from said active positions to said inactive path following transfer of said transfer course from said transfer bits to said circle of needles. 